Martinsburg daily gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1887-1887, 1887-06-23
THURSDAY, JUNE %, 1887.
GARIBALDTS LETTER.
WHY Mr.. MoRoSlNi PRIZES IT ABOVE
HIS ART TREASURES.

WHY MIR. MOROSlNi PRIZES 1T ABOVE
HIS ART TREASURES.
A Wonderful Collection OF Curios from
Every Land Hid Away in the Bankers
Secluded Home on the Bluffs or the
Hudson.
On high bluff overlooking the Hudson
and about a mile west Of Kingsbrldge, is
Elmhurst, the residence of Giovanni p.
Morosini Surrounded on three sides by
gently sloping lawns, the house itself
stands upon an eminence that oycrlooks
many miles of the most picturesque terri
tory in the state There are thirty-three
acres in Mr.. Morosini's domain, q large
part of it being in woodland. The gar
dens, orchards and strawberries give evil
dence of taste and careful cultivation
Living in this beautiful and secluded spot,
the wealthy owner has devoted the leisure
Of many years to the collection of curiosi-
ties from almost every cline under the
sun. Hardly month passes that lie does
not add to his already enormous accunu-
lItion of curios, and he has already ex-
pended fortune in gratifying this passion
for the antique Few persons in this city,
even among his acquaintances, have
known Of this peculiar. trait of character
in the Wall street operator and partner OF
Mr. Gould, and still fewer re aware thai
the tranquil looking I:aans,cn on the banks
of the Hudson is q Nerisable arsenal with
In, and holds treasures probably rarer and
Of greater value than are to be found In
any private collection of arms in this
country.
Al reporter who enjoyed the privilege
Of private view Of tslis collection found
it particularly rich III specimens Of an
\ tique arinor In tie Lain hall the visitor
is confronted on either sile by silent forms
that recall the collection in the Tower of
London Tall knights in full panoply,
sErinounted by noddin9 plumes, are
ranged in long lines.
THE MAIN COLLECTION.
Four large rooms are devoted to the
main collection, which is a surprising one
both In extent ard variety. One room
presents the appearance of an arsenal.
BY the window are two brass cannon, sur
rounded by dragons heads at the muzzle.
These were taken by d BRITISH war ship
from Chinese pirate. Alongside are two
smaller pieces of ordn, nee that did ser
vice in the German " LIS at the time OF
Gustavus Adolphus Ranged along the
large cabinets containing mass Of
weapons sufficient to equip full regi-
ment. Guns, smooth and rified, of every
conceivable pattern, from the beautifully
decorated and inIaid weapon Of the Moor
to the modern repeating rifle; Tartar
guns, with exquisitely wrought silver or
namants, some with barrels OF shining
silver, and others of copper; wonderful
Arab guns with long and deadly looking
barrels, that recall tho old time Kentucky
rifle; blunderbusses and odd looking fire
arms from the East; Dutch, German,
Austrian and Russian guns, and score
or more Of the venerable flint lock mus
kets that were the Immediate predecessors
of those used in Revolutionary days.
There are, too, arquebuses and ugly look
ing pistols Of Cromwell's time, with
match lock and wheel, looking at which
the observer no longer wonders at the in
junction of the stern old protector to his
soldiers as to keeping their powder dry.
In the same room are number OF
swords Of rare workmanship and value.
Bright cleaning blades from Toledo. with
hits OF gold or silver, and scabbards that
show the highest skill of the metal work
er's art; swords of Damascus steel, with
delicately inlaid and curiously formed
hits; keen curved blades that have doubt
less been worn by some Chinese prince or
Japanese daimio; long, dangerous looking
rapiers Of Venetian make, that have prob
ably spitted many victim; the Scottish
claymore. the jeweled cimeter Of the